Opinions divided over minister’s ‘25% reservation in cricket’ demand

Jul 6, 2017, 06:00 IST

The recent demand by Union Minster of state for Social Justice, Ramdas Athawale, to introduce a 25 per cent reservation for SC and ST in the national cricket team stirred up a hornet's nest. The minister asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to introduce a quota in the sport to give equal opportunities to sportspersons from the two marginalised sections of the society. he also added that had there been reservation in the team, India could have won against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy Final. While this statement has passed a lot of eyebrows, there are others who think the demand is valid. Hyderabad Times speaks to people to find out what they have to say.

Today's Dronacharyas only train Arjunas and not Ekalavyas, so this is a practical demand
"It's heart-warming to see the Union government acknowledge the plight of the marginalised SC, ST community. Sportspersons belonging to the backward classes often don't get equal treatment in coaching centres and face caste discrimination. I was a national-level volleyball player (1979-80) but never got any recognition. I had great ambition, but it was all crushed and finally, I had to join academics. If you are a sportsperson belonging to the backward class, the whole establishment turns against you as modern-day Dronacharyas train only Arjunas, and not Ekalavyas. I have seen many athletes ruining their career, and ending up nowhere in life. For a female Dalit athlete, it's even more difficult," says, Professor Y Swarupa R Shankar, Dept of History, University of Hyderabad.

I wish the honourable minister would keep politics out of sports
"It's absolutely unwise of Ramdas Athawale, to ask for 25 per cent reservation for SC, ST categories in the national cricket team. Instead, he should strive to make proper facilities available for the aspiring sportsmen belonging to these two sections of the society. In our educational system, we already have quotas. at least let sports be out of this reservation mess and let merit be the supreme criteria. After all, at the international level, no one goes by which section of society a player belongs to; the focus is solely on how good his game is. It is also unacceptable to question the integrity of our sporting heroes. I would like to ask Ramdas Athawale, how would reservation
have helped India against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final? I really think the honourable minister should be asked to keep politics out of sports,"says, Rahul Ram, musician
We need diversity in the Indian team and this move will make it inclusive
"If the Union government wants to make our cricket team more inclusive, then reservation is a welcome move. Cricket remains the most elitist game and there is huge commercial interest associated with it. We need more diversity in our cricket team. We can't turn a blind eye towards the elitism associated with cricket right now. cricket is like a religion in India and everybody plays it, so it can't be restricted to the elites.It's fact that most sportsmen/women from the marginalised sections don't get support or recognition. Had reservation been implemented in Indian sports long back, India could have won big in major international sports tournaments. Also, it will motivate aspiring sportspersons from the backward classes to encourage their kids to take up sports professionally," says, A Suneetha, research fellow at Anveshi Research Centre for Women's Studies
Such demands are endeavours to politicise sports, it's a blasphemy
"Sport is the only thing left in the country which thrives purely on merit. to ask for reservations in sports is an absolute blasphemy. Though I personally think reservation has no place in an urban and progressive India, comments such as these are nothing but endeavours to politicise sports, which is not acceptable. I strongly condemn the honourable minister's accusations of match fixing in the Champions Trophy final as no sane Indian will point fingers at the integrity of our national heroes like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. They have won so many matches for the country and one shouldn't forget that there are both good and bad days in sports. Years ago we may have had a few bad apples, but it's not fair to measure everyone by the same yardstick. I think the minister should procure concrete evidence before doubting our players' integrity," says, Palash Sen, musician
I think it is a valid demand. Reservation empowers democracy
"The demand for reservation in 2017 is a proof that caste discrimination is still rampant in the Indian society. So, I support Ramdas Athawale's demands for 25 per cent reservation for SC and ST community in our national cricket team. Today, be it movies, sports, IT or any other professional field, it's the upper class that has the maximum say. The only reason why Dalits today are getting into premier institutes like IITs and IIMs and are living their dreams is because there is reservation. In a way, reservation empowers democracy. The Indian society is inherently castist and against merit, hence reservation is one of the many ways to preserve true democracy. Had merit been the pillar of our society, Dalits wouldn't have had to demand for reservation in the first place," Ravichandran Bathran, Founder, Dalit Camera.

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